Platform on new construction, renovation, restoration and transformation
Ten large porch apartments in the Muziekbuurt neighborhood of Rijswijk have been changed almost beyond recognition. The gray, dreary look of the flats from the 1960s has made way for a modern and fresh appearance. In terms of energy, too, the 288 dwellings have made considerable progress. The musical details on the end walls refer to the name of the neighborhood.
"A big project," said Jacco Oostenbrug of IJsselmonde exterior wall insulation. "We do these types of complexes more often, but with a total of 14,000 m2 of facade area, this project was quite a substantial one. Our specialty fits well with the goal of this project, which is to improve homes energetically and modernize their appearance. We succeeded, also in terms of the energy label. That went from E to A."
Three years ago, IJsselmonde joined Project Mandoline, the renovation and maintenance plan for these porch flats. The housing complex belongs to housing corporation Rijswijk Wonen. Oostenbrug: "During the last renovation in the 1980s, the front and rear facades were insulated with a dry insulation system, asbestos-containing boards that were so typical of that time." This immediately hid from view the cracks in the masonry that had developed over time. According to Marc du Chatinier, project manager at Rijswijk Wonen, that solution technically no longer met contemporary insulation standards and aesthetic appearance. "The energy performance was also poor. Reason for us to accelerate the sustainability of these flats and make them more habitable."
In collaboration with Willems Vastgoedonderhoud, a design was conceived with high-quality insulation combined with PV panels. For Niels Groeneveld, architect at Willems, the challenge was in the enormous scale of this project. "I wanted quality, also in the appearance. With social housing construction, of course, costs always have to be kept in mind as well, and it is quite a lot of square meters." Therefore, he chose a combination of stucco and facade strips, which he used to create articulation in the facade. By varying the thickness of insulation, this effect was further enhanced. This is most obvious at the rear, where a rhythm is created in the facade. Groeneveld: "This way you get more of a house size instead of a massive block. That variety and details enrich the facade and that gives quality."
The homes themselves have also been made more sustainable. "A new bathroom, a new kitchen and a new toilet, but also the heating and ventilation installation and electricity have been renewed," says Jan Hekhuis, project manager at Willems. Furthermore, window frames and windows have been addressed and PV panels have been installed on the roof. Willems has been working with IJsselmonde for many years. "IJsselmonde is simply a good party. It delivers consistent quality and has the process under control, even with large projects like this. IJsselmonde thinks along with us when it comes to energetic improvements and project-oriented improvements. That's how we achieve great results together."
After removing the cladding, including the system behind it, and cleaning the facade, it was IJsselmonde's turn. She applied a 14-centimeter thick insulation package to the exterior facade and finished it with stucco and facade strips. The blended red or yellow color of the façade strips connects the colors used for the rotating parts and the water stops. It is striking how the entrances are accentuated in the façade. Oostenbrug: "We made that framing of the stairwell with EPS mouldings. The framework consists of preformed blocks of polystyrene glued to the facade. A reinforcement layer goes over this and then the finish. So in this case, gable strips."
Another striking detail are the music-related images on six of the ten end walls. Various musical notes and keys have been made visible by rendering the grouting in a different color. Oostenbrug: "A nice detail that at the same time makes a flat very recognizable, as the housing corporation wanted in the design."
For IJsselmonde, the work is finished after more than a year and a half. Insulation has been greatly improved, which in turn benefits the comfort in the homes. What makes this project special? Oostenbrug: "That is surely the aesthetic story. The flats have been given a modern and fresh look. The combination between stucco and façade stripping gives a nice, playful effect and makes the project financially viable."
